Revolutionizing the Family/Data plan?

I am on a family plan grandfathered in from Alltel. My father's the signee on the plan and I have been trying to get him to agree to move to a data plan so I can get a smart phone. I mean I have the /original/ Razr, for crying out loud.

Today I went to Best buy and explored some options. Our last contract will be out in November and the representative at Best Buy strongly encouraged us to wait til then to make a decision, as, she said, Verizon has announced plans to unveil a new type of plan this summer, one that will 'revolutionize family plans/data plans'

She also recommended this website as a great place to research phones when we're ready to commit. I thought perhaps it would be a good place to ask if anyone knew what this 'revolut...(continues)

For comparison, when AT&T started throttling the top 5% of data users on their unlimited data plan, people UNDER the 2 GB cap were being throttled, so it's obvious that the vast majority of people don't need more than 2 GB of data.

Video, using it as a hotspot, etc. I am on my computer, on the internet, a great deal. It's my only source for TV and movies. Add other people on my family plan who use it for the same...When I had 3g on my laptop I watched a gb vanish very rapidly.

So this is the big change Verizon was making, there's not another? I am surprised if it was announced on Jun 12 that the rep I spoke with didn't know about it, she seemed very savvy.

And that's your problem. I'm sorry, but with the disappearing of unlimited data plans, it's becoming obvious that the cellular data connection shouldn't be someone's only or primary Internet/TV connection. Individuals burning through data at such a rapid pace is what leads the carriers to turn such draconian measures as data tiers and overages.

The technology simply isn't there yet to keep up with demand of that scale. LTE is a step in the right direction, but even so a wired connection is what you'll want at this point to avoid the massive fees you could incur from such usage.

And the carriers that do still offer unlimited data simply don't offer the same quality of service as those who switched to tiered plans. I don't know how muc...(continues)

Ok, well accepting that unlimited data is both poor business and poor consumerism, I still have to point out the rates are extremely high. Say Sprint does go to limited-- even with unlimited their rates are much lower. The problem is that I can't convince my father to switch to Sprint-- so I am stuck staring at Verizon, which is way too high for him to consider adding data to anyway.

Is Sprint really that inferior, quality wise? At this high price, is Verizon really worth sticking with? Because-- my father pays $100 a month on average for five lines. I calculated that our minimum bill would be 240 with only 2 smart phones and 3 regular phones.

No. Sprint is not inferior, quality-wise. Verizon simply has more coverage. Where do you live and where do you and your family plan to use your phones? You're a former Alltel customer so...if you live in Montana...you may need to stick with Verizon. But if you live in say New York City...may want to give them a look.

Well...when last I checked I didn't even have Sprint 3g where I live-- couldn't use it with my laptop. So....Sprint may not even be an option, though I suppose that's always changing too right?I'm in Florida-- TB area in fact, so not even that far off the beaten path. Just a tiny little patch of nowhere it seems. We can't get FIOS or cable either.

Our last contract with Verizon is up in Nov so it may be 4 or so months before we even change unless we do a cancellation fee. Maybe the options will have improved by then. But at the moment it's starting to look like the only option I'll have is going out on my own on a Virgin Mobile $35 account. HTC EVO, unlimited data...

That's a lot more appealing than paying my dad $140 to have a smar...(continues)

Virgin is a Sprint MVNO, I believe. But yeah, that sounds like the way to go. Verizon's plans are unlikely to improve (from your perspective, at least). They are about making every nickel they can (as they should be) and these plans will put loads of money in their pockets. If they lose a few customers who were not profitable to them...even better.

As Sprint shows right now on their web site, the cheapest plan they seem to sell with unlimited text and web for the first two lines is $149.99/mo for two smartphones ($129.99 for the first two lines, then two additional $10/mo charges for each phone being a smartphone).

On Verizon's plans as they are TODAY, 1400 minutes with two lines, both smartphones with 2GB each, would be $179.99/mo.

On Verizon's new plan, two smartphones on unlimited talk and text with 4GB shared data would be $150/mo.

So, aside from the data not being unlimited, the base cost is similar. Again, this is according to Sprint's own web site. Their unlimited talk and text would be even more.

The data allotment would be your biggest distinction and decisi...(continues)

Sounded like he "could go over 10GB," so I didn't factor what-ifs into the numbers. But assuming he or she does need 10GB, the monthly cost for 10GB shared data and two smartphones on the new plan would be $180 - roughly the same price as today's 1400 Talk & Text plan with two smartphones ($179.9.

Confidence is very sexy, but sometimes it is total BS. Good sales people sell themselves. She could likely start selling Sprint tomorrow and seem like she knew what she was talking about on the first day.

Run don't walk immediately to Sprint when your contract is up, my friend. 10GBs on Verizon's new shared data plan will cost you $100. Then add in $40 per smartphone or $30 per feature (dumb) phone and you will quickly find your wallet ripped to shreds.

Yep, we get DSL but our speeds are terrible, so we were also wondering if mobile broadband like we had in the past might be a step up, but I am guessing no.We have only been able to have DSL for 3 or so years.

Alright, thanks everyone for the advice, insight and explanations. It looks like we will just be waiting til Nov and then maybe we'll change providers. If Sprint extends their range by then, they may be an option.

But yeah, looks like dreams of unlimited data and streaming aren't in the near future for fulfillment just yet.